Northampton Deputies Kill Man in Shootout

Jackson, N.C. — A Jackson man was killed Tuesday by Northampton County deputies during a shootout that followed a domestic incident, authorities said.

Northampton County Sheriff Whitey Vincent said three deputies responded to a domestic dispute at 6591 N.C. Highway 305 between 3:30 and 4 p.m. Tuesday. A man had assaulted his girlfriend and made threats to set fire to the home, Vincent said.

When officers arrived, they tried to get the man to come to the door to speak with them, but he refused. Two deputies went around the house, while the third remained in his patrol car.

The man broke out a window and began shooting at the deputies, Vincent said. He then walked out the front door onto the porch, and one of the deputies fired back at him, Vincent said.

Robert Mickinley Edwards, 55, died Tuesday night at Pitt Memorial Hospital in Greenville from the single gunshot wound, Vincent said.

Deputies Virginia Powell, Cory Jackson and Jessie Stevens have been placed on administrative leave with pay, and the State Bureau of Investigation is reviewing the case.

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I'd have to agree with all here except for the one ignorant statement. Until these ignorant people put on a uniform with a shield and learn some law, they have no right to say anything. A police officer wearing a uniform and shield automatically has a target painted on their chest and back. All this ignorant person had to do was look up DEADLY PHYSICAL FORCE before they opened their mouth. These officers had every right to use Deadly Physical Force! This was a "Good Shoot" if I've ever seen one!

HighRiskCO
January 3, 2007 10:56 p.m.

Sounds like a domestic incident with a happy ending.

MG1
January 3, 2007 5:19 p.m.

oh well

builder276
January 3, 2007 4:39 p.m.

hey ltbarkley -at- gmail -dot- com, I'm like you; I had to register to respond to this. My husband is a cop and he don't get paid anywhere near where he needs to get paid to put up with dumbass people like that man. He makes 26,500 which is crap considering he never knows what stupid jacked up person is going to do when he is coming up to a house where someone has had to call the police b/c they are with someone and can't get along.

YouAfraid
January 3, 2007 3:34 p.m.

Seriley1737, I registered here JUST to respond to that ignorant statement. Did you READ the article? They DID ask questions first (while trying to get the "suspect" out of the house), then they got SHOT AT, at which point deadly force is JUSTIFIED. Its not like they shot this guy 40 times - it was ONE gunshot wound. These deputies are heroes, not armchair judgementalists such as yourself. I hope you get into a situation where an officer saves your life. You need a serious wake up call.